This week's Mutual Fund stories

Many funds investing in Europe are doing just that. With economic growth in developed Europe looking tame, some fund managers are hitching their wagons to the frontier markets of Eastern Europe.

It's a riskier strategy, to be sure, but as MarketWatch reporter Murray Coleman points out in this week's top story, "Fund managers lasso Europe's 'Wild East,'" international investment pros are increasingly confident about their chances in Europe's emerging economies.

Read how Eastern Europe's growth may affect your international fund's investment strategy, then check out one global fund manager's three favorite stock picks. Plus, Paul B. Farrell celebrates a decade of writing columns for MarketWatch, and John Prestbo sees a caution flag as world markets hit record highs, all on MarketWatch's Mutual Funds/ETF page this week.

Jonathan Burton, investments editor

Lassoing Europe's 'Wild East'

With economic growth in developed Europe likely to be tame this year, some mutual-fund managers are looking east. See full story.

INVESTING NEWS & STRATEGIES

Bigger is getting better

Big-cap stocks have consistently lagged the market for smaller U.S. companies in recent years, but the trend is reversing so far this year, judging by the returns of exchange-traded funds. See ETF Focus.

Global manager taps telecom, consumer sectors

Whether a promising business is based in Philadelphia or the Philippines, the managers of Thornburg Global Opportunities Fund make it their business to blow past borders. See The Stockpickers.

Deep in the market's mine

Perhaps Tom Perkins, co-manager of the Janus Mid Cap Value Fund, should have the additional title of "miner" printed on his business cards. See full story.

Spoils of Wall Street battle may go to Schwab

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.'s formidable clout with financial advisers could strengthen now that a provision allowing Wall Street to offer fee-based brokerage accounts is on the verge of disappearing, industry analysts say. See Due Diligence.

Among individual investors, Morningstar Inc. is best known for its star ratings, analysis and data on mutual funds, but the firm is increasingly making its presence felt in exchange-traded funds. See ETF Investing.

Market undervalued, adviser says

Craig Callahan, president of ICON Advisers and the ICON funds, says that despite hitting recent highs, the stock market remains undervalued and is a good long-term buy. See full story.

Let great managers shine

Steve Goldberg of Tweddell Goldberg Investment Management says that investors who entrust money to great managers should give those fund jockeys the time and leeway to run their own race rather than second-guessing the manager's skill during any sort of downturn. See full story.

COMMENTARY

10 years and counting

What a great trip it's been: Ten years ago this month MarketWatch started publishing my columns. And my fourth book was also released, "Mutual Funds on the Net." Internet investing was new (some people still thought "browser" was the family pooch). See Paul B. Farrell.

ETF guidebook is no page turner

Just as the Luddite cult destroyed machines to fight the industrial revolution, Morningstar Inc.'s guidebook "Morningstar ETFs 150" understates the greatest values of exchange-traded funds and fails to address both index and proactive investment strategies. See Bill Donoghue.

Global markets' strong gains stir caution

When your fund is sector heavy

With the market reaching new highs but consumer confidence sitting in the weeds, it's no surprise that investors have questions. Here are a few of them that have recently been addressed to me. See Chuck Jaffe.

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